Means for movably contacting electrical conductors.



N0. 761,928.- PATENTED JUNE 7, 1904.

R e. WALKER. h MEANS FOR MOVABLY CONTACTING ELEGTRIGAL OONDUOTORS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented June '7, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK GEORGE WVALKER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO KENNETH REEVE TAYLOR, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

MEANS FOR MOVABLY CONTACTING ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 761,928, dated June '7, 1904.

Application filed August 12, 1903.

, To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK GEORGE WALKER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga,

the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

My invention relates to devices for movably contacting electrical conductors, and is particularly adapted for use in electrically-open ated traction-cars for use as what is commonly known as the trolley-wheel.

The object of said invention is to provide means of such described character which will combine economy of construction and operation with efficiency; and said invention consists of means hereinafter fully described, and particularly set forth in the claim.

The annexed drawings and the'following de scription set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting but one of various mechan ical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of theend of a trolleypole and a device embodying my invention applied thereto, a section of a trolley-wire being also shown in connection therewith. Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of such abovementioned pole and device, showing a portion thereof in axial section.

Upon the upper extremity of the trolleypole A is provided a fork a, suitably secured, in which latter is journaled, by means of a pin a, an oscillatory bracket 13. This bracket is held normally in an upright position by means of a helical retractile spring 7), whose retractile effect is limited by the contact of the bracket with the forkc, as will be readily understood. B is formed with two lateral inclined surfaces Z) 6, Fig. 2, upon each of which is seated a trolley-wheel C. These wheels are each jour- The upper portion of the bracket Serial No. 169,192. (No model.)

naled upon a journal-pin 0 c, which is secured by means of a nut c 0, each pin being provided witha suitable head 0 c. The journal- -bearing of each wheel is formed by a lignumvitae or white-metal bushing 0 intermediate of which and the wheel is placed a ring 0 of insulating material. A similar insulatingringp is placed between the pin and the contiguous portion of. the bracket, as shown. Intermediateof each wheel and the opposing face of the bracket and between it and the pinhead are placed insulating-washers 0 0 re spectively, so that it will be seen that the said pins and bushings are completely insulated from the bracket and also from the wheels. Between each wheel and the opposing bracketface is placed. a spring D, of conducting material, which bears against its respective wheel and forms electrical contact therewith. These form electrical connection therewith, whereby current may be conducted through the trolley-pole. As shown, the axes of the pins 0 c are perpendicular to the bracket bearplane, Fig. 1, and are hence inclined relatively to each other. The wheels are made of equal'dlameter, and each has a grooved periphery, as shown, the inner groove-flange of each being cut away, as shown, to form two bev led surfaces 0 -0 which are parallel with each other at their points of nearest approach to each :other, as shown in Fig. 2.. At the upper plane in which such point (its nearest approach) occurs the two grooves form a contact-pocket c for the reception of the trolley-wire, one half of same being formed by one wheel and the other half by the other wheel. It will hence be seen that a trolleywire may be caused to contact said wheels simultaneously, as shown in Fig. 2, permitting both wheels to rotate as is required, such simultaneous contact taking place when the trolleysuch is, however, not the case, as when the car is passing around a curve in the track, the wire is caused to contact but one of the wheels, as shown in the dotted lines. In so contacting but one wheel it will be seen that the wire springs are secured to the bracket, so as to' wire is in the plane of the trolley pole. When ing-surfaces, lie in a common and transverse assumes a position in which its axis lies at the point of contact substantially in the central plane of the wheel, so that the rounding of curves is accompanied by a perfect rotation of the wheel, and hence an absence of slippage between wheel and trolley-wire and a very material reduction in the liability of a separation thereof and the consequent breaking of contact, which is so frequently experienced in the operation of this class of devices.

I have found that by insulating the journalpins completely, so as to prevent the passage of current therethrough, a greater life of the bearings, and consequently of the wheels, is secured, particularly where soft-metal bushings are used, as compared with the construction in which the current is received and conducted thereby.

In the construction shown in the drawings the trolley-wire is illustrated as being at a maximum height.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by the following claim or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention In means for movably contacting electrical conductors, the combination of a main support, a secondary support pivoted upon such main support, a retractilc spring attached to such two supports respectively, said sec 

